Signs that Brussels is now prepared to make a deal - EXPRESS COMMENT

Do we sense a change in the mood music coming out of Brussels? For the first time since these tortuous negotiations began, chief negotiator Michel Barnier has conceded manufacturers sell into British markets that Britain will get a unique deal from the EU, “a partnership with Britain such as has never been with any other third country."

The Prime Minister has started to drum up trade with African states. (Image: GETTY)

And about time too.

As we have repeatedly pointed out, the countries of the EU need us every bit as much as we need them: their and there was never the slightest chance they were going to risk that.

It is noticeable that this climbdown has begun at the exact moment that the Government showed it was serious about making preparations to leave without a deal and at the exact moment the Prime Minister has started to drum up trade with African states.

This is, at long last, the real way to handle Brexit: to prove that we will not be pushed around by the unelected bureaucrats of Brussels and to get out there and start talking to the rest of the world.

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Perhaps we might extend the October deadline for a deal but no matter: it is clearly on its way.

It also represents a complete triumph for our persevering, hard-working and very much underestimated Prime Minister.

History will be a good deal more generous to Theresa May than her contemporaries have been.

Theresa May and Cyril Ramaphosa. (Image: GETTY)

Drinks we do not need

The Government is to consult on banning the sale of energy drinks to under-18s and not before time.

We have an obesity epidemic in this country, with children eating far too much sugar and not getting anything like enough exercise.

And that is what these energy drinks are: cans full of sugar, causing goodness knows what health implications for life.

In any case, why should under-18s need energy drinks?

Teens who want to spend their days under the bedclothes won’t realise this but they will never have energy levels like this again.

What we should be doing is to encourage them to adopt far healthier lifestyles than so many seem to be leading at the moment and teaching them that sugar – not fat as was so long suspected – is the real culprit in their diet.